Salinity changes due to warming threaten marine ecosystems

July 13 () –

A groundbreaking study has revealed the critical, but largely understudied factor of salinity changes in oceans and coastlines caused by climate change.

Changes in salinity, or salt content, due to climate change and land use can have potentially devastating impacts on vital coastal and estuarine ecosystems; however, this has rarely been studied until now.

This new research provides valuable insight into the threats posed by anthropogenic salinity changes to marine and coastal ecosystems and outlines the health and economic consequences for local communities in often densely populated regions, reports it’s a statement the University of North Florida (UNF), which participated in the study.

The research team looked at how climate change-related variations in rainfall, as well as local human-induced impacts, can lead to extreme floods and droughts, which affects the availability of fresh water and salinity in sensitive ecosystems.

As sea levels rise, saltwater inflows into coastal and low-lying areas can also have devastating effects. Certain groups, such as microorganisms, plankton, corals, mangroves, tidal marshes, macroalgae and seagrasses are most at risk and can quickly face ecosystem collapse.

The researchers caution that salinity changes are predicted to intensify along with warming oceans, and stress the urgency of immediately addressing these salinity challenges to safeguard biodiversity and marine and coastal ecosystems.

The study was published in Global Change Biology.